Leviticus 6:14-23 comments: law of the meat offering

 

Leviticus 6:14 ¶  And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. 15  And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. 16  And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 17  It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. 18  All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. 19  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 20  This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. 21  In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in: and the baken pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savour unto the LORD. 22  And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute for ever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt. 23  For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten.

 

The meat-offering allowed something left over for Aaron and his sons to eat. This shows a principle that Paul brought out in his letters, that those who ministered should also be able to benefit from their ministry. First, the verse referring to kindness to a beast of the field that underscores what he will say.

Deuteronomy 25:4   Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

 

1Corinthians 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

 

1Timothy 5:17 ¶  Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18  For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

 

However, Paul had reasons for not partaking of this benefit.

 

1Corinthians 9:15 ¶  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. 16  For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17  For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

18  What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

 

He was concerned in how this might appear to others, of him making merchandise of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He warned about Bishops (what we today call Pastors) and Deacons who were greedy of gain.

1Timothy 3:1 ¶  This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 2  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 4  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 5  (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) 6  Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7  Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 8 ¶  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9  Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

 

It wasn’t until the third century that the first writing is known of a church leader, called a “Church Father” by the Roman Catholic Church and most mainline Protestant churches, Cyprian of Carthage, insisting that Christian pastors or bishops should be supported by the tithe, which is an Old Testament rule under the Law, not a New Testament doctrine. He made a comparison between Christian clergy and the Levitical priesthood. According to most sources I’ve read the collection plate itself originated, in Protestant churches at least, during the Reformation as a successor to the fourteenth century alms dish. Before that there was a box for offerings.

 

So, in the Christian church there must be a balance. But, here in this passage Aaron and his sons eat of what remains of this meat-offering. I spoke about flour, frankincense, and oil previously.

 

For ever’s usage like perpetual in our thinking can mean for eternity but typically means for a long time, or as long as something lasts, or until the Messiah comes, as we will see with everlasting covenant and perpetual statute later. The context will determine the meaning. We know that partaking of the Tree of Life as per Genesis 3:22 when it was on the earth and Revelation 22:2, long after it was removed to Heaven, from these verses taken together, the Tree of Life can impart a renewal of life to a physical body for an unending period of time referred to as for ever in Genesis. We also know that God’s people today, the Church composed of Jew and Gentile, does not offer burnt offerings as Christ was our final sacrifice. Just be cautious and look at the context.

If you have difficulty understanding the concept of phrases like for ever referring to a long, long time or to the end of something in particular or even to the end of a dispensation please ask yourself if the following verse means that no Jews were ever to return to Jerusalem.

 

Jeremiah 17:4  And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.